Pregnancy is a tumultuous time in any woman's life. Between the raging hormones and the drastic changes going on in her body, each pregnant woman is faced with concerns and fears from all sides. There are new physical limitations, stricter dietary guidelines, and the ever-lingering question omega 3 fish oil of what is best for the baby.
In all of that, most women just want to stay healthy: for themselves and for their babies. This is a worthy goal and can be accomplished far easier thanks to modern nutritional facts and supplements. While most women may be good at trying to eat healthily and may even take their prenatal vitamins on a daily basis, one easy thing all pregnant women could be doing for themselves and their babies is taking fish oil.
An Overview of Fish Oil
As the name suggests, fish oil is found naturally in fish and other seafood. What is referred to as fish oil is actually an extract from the oily tissues of some fish. Most physicians and nutritionists recommend including fish oil as part of a healthy and balanced diet due to its unique health properties, which include the presence of certain omega-3 fatty acids. While there are many omega-3 fatty acids found naturally in a variety of foods, the fish oil in particular has the acids DHA and EPA. These two unique acids have been found to have specific health benefits, from enhanced brain development to anti-inflammatory properties.
While omega 3 is most commonly consumed by fish, evidence shows that fish do not create the omega 3 fatty acids themselves. To the contrary, fish oil is rich in fatty acids due to the diet of the fish, which is based heavily on microalgae. Therefore, not all fish are known to provide high doses of these acids, but rather fish like herring and sardines, which eat the algae as a part of their diet, are often good sources for it. Other predatory fish, such as lake trout or salmon, may also be rich in these omega-3 fatty acids thanks to the fish they themselves consume.
